Re: Delphi vs Web/Scripting Languages

Brian Moelk wrote:
m. Th. wrote:
<quote>

The gap between the best software engineering practice
and the average practice is very wide—perhaps wider than in
any other engineering discipline. A tool that disseminates
good practice would be important.

—Steve McConnell citing Fred Brooks in 'CodeComplete 2nd Edition'

</quote>

But Delphi allows as many variables as you want declared at the top of a huge OnClick handler...how is that any more good practice than inline variable declaration within a crappy C routine?


No, is not better. But the experience shows that 'huge OnClick handlers' are much more harder to find than 'crappy C routines'.

The bottom line here is that good practice cannot realistically be imposed by a tool or language, but is more likely to be encouraged by a community.


....and let's say that 'tools and languages' doesn't matter in achieving better code, as you say. Then, wouldn't more logical to choose a tool which gives you
- greater speed - ie. a native code compiler
- better usage of resources (memory, CPU) - ie. no Garbage collectors, no VM to occupy memory etc.
- more easier deployment - single exe compared with a bunch of files (the 'runtime') and source code which must be obfuscated in order to protect your IP?

Imho, your position is in favor of a compiler. And if this compiler is made x-platform thing which is certainly doable, and it was done by several projects already (I don't mean now Delphi necessarily) then where is the advantage of the family of languages which you support?

....but my intent isn't to win a language war, is to enhance my tool in which it happens to do our programs, knowing very well that this tool cannot be 'the best of everything for everyone' (btw, Delphi tried that in the past, as you know - with well known results).

Also, I'm afraid to 'win a language war' because there are 'some people' which can easy say "What I'd told you? Our Delphi is the best one. Let's leave it as a cash cow in a splendid isolation self contemplating it's eternal glory in the light of the leader of the open ALM revolution." Not that this can happen, but just to be sure...

I just try to see what are the goods and the bads of this tool from a critical POV in order to leverage the work which is done by other communities. And, yes, imho, a tool, as a result of a thinking process of a team (which is a small community inside in a company/foundation etc.), can influence the 'outside' community. And, also, the other informational stream must exist: The community feedback must influence the tool. That's why I do all these posts. In fact, the most daunting thing in all this thread (and the 'crux' of it - to cite you) for me was Robert's statement when I've asked him to vote on certain QC entries:

<quote>

Why would I want that? Do you really believe they would add anything of this into Delphi?

</quote>

Why a logical developer, as he seems to be, to have reasons to post such a statement? Because we all know that he have reasons to post it...

Concretely, what/which features do you find useful in Ruby (with which it seems that you have a certain experience) which, based on your experience as a programmer, can be 'imported/adapted/implemented (etc.)' in Delphi?

--

m. th.
.

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